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On This Day in History — October 21

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Highlights of October 21

1994 — North Korea and the United States signed the Agreed Framework to limit the former's nuclear weapons program and to normalize relations between the two countries. Read more
1994 — In Seoul, South Korea, 32 people were killed and 17 others injured when a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapsed (pictured). Read more
1968 — At the height of the Japanese university protests, protesters occupied Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and clashed violently with police. Read more
1966 — A coal tip fell on the village of Aberfan, Wales, killing 144 people, mostly schoolchildren. Read more
1959 — The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, opened in New York City. Read more
1944 — World War II: The three-week-long Battle of Aachen concluded, making the city the first on German soil to be captured by the Allies. Read more
1941 — World War II: German soldiers massacred nearly 2,800 Serbs in Kragujevac in reprisal for insurgent attacks in the district of Gornji Milanovac. Read more
1910 — HMS Niobe arrived in Halifax Harbour to become the first large ship of the Royal Canadian Navy. Read more
1867 — The first and second of three treaties were signed near Medicine Lodge, Kansas, between the United States federal government and several Native American tribes in the Great Plains, requiring them to relocate to areas in present-day western Oklahoma. Read more
1858 — French composer Jacques Offenbach's operetta Orpheus in the Underworld, featuring the music most associated with the can-can (audio featured), was first performed at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris. Read more
1854 — Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses and 15 nuns were sent to the Ottoman Empire to help treat wounded British soldiers fighting in the Crimean War. Read more
1345 — Hundred Years' War: The English victory at the Battle of Auberoche marked a change in the military balance of power in Aquitaine, with the subsequent collapse of the French position. Read more
1096 — First Crusade: At the Battle of Civetot, the Seljuk forces of Kilij Arslan destroyed the army of the People's Crusade as it marched toward Nicaea. Read more

Events

2021 — A shooting occurs on the set of the film Rust, in which actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop weapon which had been loaded, killing the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, and injuring director Joel Souza. Read more
2019 — Thirty people are killed in a fiery bus crash in western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more
2019 — In Canada, the 2019 Canadian federal election ends, resulting in incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remaining in office, albeit with the Liberal Party in a minority government. Read more
2018 — A passenger train derails in Yilan County, Taiwan, killing 18 people and injuring 187. Read more
2011 — Iraq War: President Barack Obama announces that the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq will be complete by the end of the year. Read more
2007 — Finnish race drivers Kimi Räikkönen of Scuderia Ferrari won the Brazilian Grand Prix in Formula One. With this result, Räikkönen became world champion, surpassing McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by one point in the drivers' standings. Read more
2003 — Images of the dwarf planet Eris are taken and subsequently used in documenting its discovery. Read more
1994 — North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections. Read more
1994 — In Seoul, South Korea, 32 people are killed when a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapses. Read more
1989 — In Honduras, 131 people are killed when a Boeing 727 crashes on approach to Toncontín International Airport near the nation's capital Tegucigalpa. Read more
1987 — The Jaffna hospital massacre is carried out by Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, killing 70 Tamil patients, doctors and nurses. Read more
1986 — In Lebanon, pro-Iran kidnappers claim to have abducted American writer Edward Tracy (he is released in August 1991). Read more
1984 — Niki Lauda claims his third and final Formula One Drivers' Championship Title by half a point ahead of McLaren team-mate Alain Prost at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Read more
1983 — The metre is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Read more
1981 — Andreas Papandreou becomes Prime Minister of Greece, ending an almost 50-year-long system of power dominated by conservative forces. Read more
1979 — Moshe Dayan resigns from the Israeli government because of strong disagreements with Prime Minister Menachem Begin over policy towards the Arabs. Read more
1978 — Australian civilian pilot Frederick Valentich vanishes over the Bass Strait south of Melbourne, after reporting contact with an unidentified aircraft. Read more
1973 — Fred Dryer of the Los Angeles Rams becomes the first player in NFL history to score two safeties in the same game. Read more
1971 — A gas explosion kills 22 people at a shopping centre near Glasgow, Scotland. Read more
1969 — The 1969 Somali coup d'état establishes a Marxist–Leninist administration. Read more
1967 — The National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam organizes a march of fifty thousand people from the Lincoln Memorial to the Pentagon. Read more
1966 — A colliery spoil tip slips onto houses and a school in the village of Aberfan in Wales, killing 144 people, 116 of whom were schoolchildren. Read more
1965 — Comet Ikeya–Seki approaches perihelion, passing 450,000 kilometers (279,617 miles) from the sun. Read more
1959 — In New York City, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opens to the public. Read more
1959 — President Dwight D. Eisenhower approves the transfer of all US Army space-related activities to NASA, including most of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Read more
1956 — The Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya is defeated. Read more
1950 — Korean War: Heavy fighting begins between British and Australian forces and North Koreans during the Battle of Yongju. Read more
1945 — In the 1945 French legislative election French women vote for the first time. Read more
1944 — World War II: The first kamikaze attack damages HMAS Australia as the Battle of Leyte Gulf begins. Read more
1944 — World War II: The Nemmersdorf massacre against German civilians takes place. Read more
1944 — World War II: The city of Aachen falls to American forces after three weeks of fighting, the first German city to fall to the Allies. Read more
1943 — World War II: The Provisional Government of Free India is formally established in Japanese-occupied Singapore. Read more
1941 — World War II: The Kragujevac massacre against Serbian men and boys takes place. Read more
1940 — The first edition of the Ernest Hemingway novel For Whom the Bell Tolls is published. Read more
1931 — A secret society in the Imperial Japanese Army launches an abortive coup d'état attempt. Read more
1921 — President Warren G. Harding delivers the first speech by a sitting U.S. president against lynching in the Deep South. Read more
1912 — First Balkan War: The Greek navy completes the capture of the island of Lemnos for use as a forward base against the Dardanelles. Read more
1910 — HMS Niobe arrives in Halifax Harbour to become the first ship of the Royal Canadian Navy. Read more
1907 — The 1907 Qaratog earthquake hits the borders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, killing between 12,000 and 15,000 people. Read more
1895 — The capitulation of Tainan completes the Japanese conquest of Taiwan. Read more
1892 — Opening ceremonies for the World's Columbian Exposition are held in Chicago, though because construction was behind schedule, the exposition did not open until May 1, 1893. Read more
1888 — The Swiss Social Democratic Party is founded. Read more
1879 — Thomas Edison applies for a patent for his design for an incandescent light bulb. Read more
1867 — The Medicine Lodge Treaty is signed by southern Great Plains Indian leaders. The treaty requires Native American Plains tribes to relocate to a reservation in the western Indian Territory. Read more
1861 — American Civil War: Union forces under Colonel Edward Baker are defeated by Confederate troops in the second major battle of the war. Read more
1854 — Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses are sent to the Crimean War. Read more
1824 — Portland cement is patented. Read more
1805 — Napoleonic Wars: A British fleet led by Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet under Admiral Villeneuve in the Battle of Trafalgar. Read more
1797 — In Boston Harbor, the 44-gun United States Navy frigate USS Constitution is launched. Read more
1774 — The flag of Taunton, Massachusetts is the first to include the word "Liberty". Read more
1600 — Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats the leaders of rival Japanese clans in the Battle of Sekigahara and becomes shōgun of Japan. Read more
1520 — João Álvares Fagundes discovers the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, bestowing them their original name of "Islands of the 11,000 Virgins". Read more
1512 — Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. Read more
1392 — Japanese Emperor Go-Kameyama abdicates in favor of rival claimant Go-Komatsu. Read more
1187 — Election of Gregory VIII following the death of Pope Urban III. Read more
1139 — Zengi, atabeg of Aleppo, takes Baalbek from the Burid dynasty. Read more
1097 — First Crusade: Crusaders led by Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemund of Taranto, and Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse, begin the Siege of Antioch. Read more
1096 — A Seljuk Turkish army successfully ambushes the People's Crusade at the Battle of Civetot. Read more
1094 — El Cid and his forces defeat a larger army of the Almoravids in the battle of Cuarte. Read more
685 — Election of Pope Conon following the death of Pope John V. Read more

Born on October 21

1995 — Cameron Burgess, Scottish-Australian footballer Read more
1995 — Doja Cat, American rapper, singer and songwriter Read more
1995 — Antoinette Guedia Mouafo, Cameroonian swimmer Read more
1993 — Kane Brown, American singer and songwriter Read more
1992 — Natasha Bassett, Australian actress Read more
1992 — Marzia Kjellberg, Italian businessperson and former YouTuber Read more
1992 — Damion Lee, American basketball player Read more
1992 — Bernard Tomic, German-Australian tennis player Read more
1991 — Alexander Burmistrov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
1991 — Tom Eastman, English footballer Read more
1991 — Geoffry Hairemans, Belgian footballer Read more
1991 — Rob Keogh, English cricketer Read more
1991 — Vadaine Oliver, English footballer Read more
1991 — Harry Pell, English footballer Read more
1990 — Bengali-Fodé Koita, French footballer Read more
1990 — Mathieu Peybernes, French footballer Read more
1990 — Ricky Rubio, Spanish basketball player Read more
1990 — Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson, Icelandic politician Read more
1989 — Mads Dahm, Norwegian footballer Read more
1989 — Festus Ezeli, Nigerian-American basketball player Read more
1989 — Luke Murphy, English footballer Read more
1989 — Jonathan Viera, Spanish footballer Read more
1989 — Sam Vokes, English-Welsh footballer Read more
1988 — Ricki Olsen, Danish footballer Read more
1988 — Glen Powell, American actor Read more
1988 — Daniel Schorn, Austrian cyclist Read more
1987 — Tonje Brenna, Norwegian politician Read more
1987 — Justin De Fratus, American baseball player Read more
1987 — Andrey Grechin, Russian swimmer Read more
1986 — Almen Abdi, Swiss footballer Read more
1986 — Chibuzor Chilaka, Nigerian footballer Read more
1986 — Scott Rendell, English footballer Read more
1985 — Simone Bracalello, Italian footballer Read more
1985 — Dean Collis, Australian rugby league player Read more
1985 — Hadise, Belgian-Turkish singer-songwriter and dancer Read more
1984 — Anna Bogdanova, Russian heptathlete Read more
1984 — Tom Brandstater, American football player Read more
1984 — Kenny Cooper, American soccer player Read more
1984 — Anouk Leblanc-Boucher, Canadian speed skater Read more
1984 — José Lobatón, Venezuelan baseball player Read more

Died on October 21

2025 — Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Portuguese politician, former Prime Minister of Portugal (born 1937) Read more
2024 — Mimi Hines, Canadian singer and comedian (born 1933) Read more
2023 — Bobby Charlton, English footballer and manager (born 1937) Read more
2023 — Bobi, Portuguese dog (born 1992) Read more
2023 — Bill Hayden, Australian politician, 21st Governor General of Australia (born 1933) Read more
2021 — Bernard Haitink, Dutch conductor and violinist (born 1929) Read more
2020 — Frank Bough, English television presenter (born 1933) Read more
2015 — France Bučar, Slovenian lawyer and politician (born 1923) Read more
2015 — Marty Ingels, American actor (born 1936) Read more
2015 — Norman W. Moore, English conservationist and author (born 1923) Read more
2015 — Sheldon Wolin, American philosopher, theorist, and academic (born 1922) Read more
2014 — Ben Bradlee, American journalist and author (born 1921) Read more
2014 — Nelson Bunker Hunt, American businessman (born 1926) Read more
2014 — Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, Iranian cleric and politician, Prime Minister of Iran (born 1931) Read more
2014 — Edith Kawelohea McKinzie, Hawaiian genealogist, author, and hula expert (born 1925) Read more
2014 — Gough Whitlam, Australian lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 21st Prime Minister of Australia (born 1916) Read more
2013 — Bud Adams, American businessman (born 1923) Read more
2013 — Gianni Ferrio, Italian composer and conductor (born 1924) Read more
2013 — Rune T. Kidde, Danish author, poet, and illustrator (born 1957) Read more
2013 — Colonel Robert Morris, American singer-songwriter and drummer (born 1954) Read more
2013 — Major Owens, American librarian and politician (born 1936) Read more
2013 — Tony Summers, Welsh swimmer (born 1924) Read more
2013 — Oscar Yanes, Venezuelan journalist and author (born 1927) Read more
2012 — Yash Chopra, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1932) Read more
2012 — Antoni Dobrowolski, Polish educator (born 1904) Read more
2012 — Jaroslav Kozlík, Czech volleyball player and educator (born 1907) Read more
2012 — Alf Kumalo, South African photographer and journalist (born 1930) Read more
2012 — George McGovern, American historian, lieutenant, and politician (born 1922) Read more
2011 — Hikmet Bilâ, Turkish journalist and author (born 1954) Read more
2011 — Tone Pavček, Slovenian poet and author (born 1928) Read more
2010 — A. Ayyappan, Indian poet and translator (born 1949) Read more
2007 — Paul Fox, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1951) Read more
2006 — Sandy West, American singer-songwriter and drummer (born 1959) Read more
2003 — Louise Day Hicks, American politician (born 1916) Read more
2003 — Luis A. Ferré, Puerto Rican engineer and politician, 3rd Governor of Puerto Rico (born 1904) Read more
2003 — Elliott Smith, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1969) Read more
2002 — Edward J. Mortola, American academic and president of Pace University (born 1917) Read more
1999 — Lars Bo, Danish author and illustrator (born 1924) Read more
1999 — Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Turkish political scientist, lawyer, and politician (born 1939) Read more
1998 — Francis W. Sargent, American soldier and politician, 64th Governor of Massachusetts (born 1915) Read more

Holidays & observances

Armed Forces Day (Honduras); Christian feast day: Céline of Laon; Christian feast day: Blessed Charles of Austria (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Fintán of Taghmon; Christian feast day: Hilarion; Christian feast day: John of Bridlington; Christian feast day: Laura of Saint Catherine of Siena; Christian feast day: Malchus of Syria; Christian feast day: Pedro Calungsod; Christian feast day: Peter Yu Tae-chol; Christian feast day: Severinus of Bordeaux; Christian feast day: Tuda of Lindisfarne; Christian feast day: Ursula; Christian feast day: Viator of Lyons; Christian feast day: October 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Egyptian Naval Day (Egypt); Indian Police Commemoration Day (India); National Nurses' Day (Thailand); Ndadaye Day (Burundi); Overseas Chinese Day (Republic of China); Trafalgar Day (the British Empire in the 19th and early 20th century); Birth of the Báb (2017) (Baháʼí Faith)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 21”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.